CJP targets Election Commission, says ready for 3-month stir; AAP, Left lead charge in Delhi

Thousands of protesters gathered in Mumbai and Delhi on Friday during demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

In Mumbai, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) led the protest at Shivaji Park. CJP national convener Abhijeet Dipke said the organisation was prepared to continue its agitation for three months. He criticised the SIR exercise and highlighted the importance of constitutional rights and the right to vote.

Several public figures, including actors Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi, singer Vishal Dadlani and filmmaker Vishal Bharadwaj, attended the Mumbai protest. Mahatma Gandhi’s great-grandson Tushar Gandhi was also present.

Dipke also challenged Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to send protesters to jail and said the agitation against the Chief Election Commissioner would continue.

In Delhi, hundreds of protesters were detained after police denied permission for a gathering at Jantar Mantar. According to police, around 700 people were detained. Prohibitory orders were imposed in the area and entry and exit at several Delhi Metro stations was temporarily closed.

Among those detained were Aam Aadmi Party leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj, Atishi and Sanjay Singh, RJD MP Manoj Jha, AISA leader Neha Bora, Swaraj India member Yogendra Yadav, and activists associated with SFI and NSUI.

AAP leaders said the protest was peaceful and described participation in demonstrations as a democratic right. Police, meanwhile, cited the lack of permission for the gathering at Jantar Mantar.

The protests in both cities centred on concerns surrounding the electoral roll revision and demands for accountability from the Election Commission.